Read: Alma 39-41
Mark: Alma 41:20
"You cannot do wrong and feel right. It is impossible." --President Ezra Taft Benson
To ponder:
Alma uses four chapters (39-42) to counsel his son Corianton to repent. How important is it to you to follow the counsel of your parents and other righteous priesthood leaders? Read Alma 36:20. During the time Alma was racked with torment for his sins, whose words did he remember that caused him to cry out for forgiveness?
In Alma 39:11, Alma tells Corianton that because of his behavior, the Zoramites would not listen to the teachings of God. This has just really hit a resounding chord with me--and reminded me of the importance of always always setting a good example, no matter even if we think no one may be watching. It just takes one slightly wrong 'move' by a member of the Church to destroy so many teachings!
ReplyDeleteAs I read through Chapter 41, I couldn't help thinking of a silly saying that my 9-year old granddaughter likes to use: "You get what you get, and don't throw a fit!" Alma explains to Corianton that basically you get what you get; in other words, if you are evil, you will be met with misery and evil; if you are good, you will receive good! It is our choice; we have the free agency to choose each and every day.
I really like that phrase, "You get what you get and you don't throw a fit!" A family in one of our Provo wards used it (they were nursery leaders along with us) and it's always stuck with me. We're trying to use it more and more with our kids now, LOL. Hopefully it'll click soon! Elena's not totally buying it yet.
DeleteI don't have my physical copy of the reading list in front of me, but Patti, Alma 41:20 doesn't exist! Is this what the list says? I wonder now what verse I'm supposed to pay extra attention to, LOL.
ReplyDeleteI really loved this reading, though, especially chapter 40. Alma goes into great detail about the resurrection and how things will go down. The main gist of it all is that things will go back to the way they were. Good will be good and evil will be evil. We must repent before the judgement day, because after that it's too late. I'm so happy for temple work for this reason. Life is too dang short, and some people need a lot more time for repenting and receiving the gospel. Even so, they'll still have a choice and if they still want evil, that's still what they'll end up with. You can't pretend to be something else in front of God. You might fool everyone else, but God knows better.
Chapter 39: If a prompting comes from the Holy Spirit and the source is known, but the prompting denied - this is a sin and unpardonable! I am often frustrated by how unclear I am by the promptings of the Spirit. Maybe this is for my own protection. Maybe the promptings are made fuzzy so that I will not sin because maybe I will not follow through?? If that is the case I need to increase my determination to follow through whenever I understand the promptings so I won't need this protection! I want clear promptings!
ReplyDeleteChapter 40: We will be given that which we choose - He will not steal our choices or the consequences that accompany them from us. Even if it means we have chosen eternal sorrow.
A testimony/knowledge of death, resurrection, and the in between would go a long way in making someone not fear death, but make choices with the beyond-death-state in mind. And this way of living will leave us a lot happier!
Chapter 41: Every choice made is a brick in our personal kingdom. We have one under construction with God and one without Him. Make choices that add to the right mansion. It is our choice.